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Taxotere/Cytoxan side effect - severe stomach pains?

Corinna11

Posts: 75
Joined: May 2011

Aug 07, 2011 - 9:34 pm

Hi ladies,
Had my 1st Taxotere/Cytoxan infusion last Wed. and have been having increasing problems with stomach ache/intense cramps/bloating. Have shooting pains throughout my body but mostly on my left side abdomen. I think some of these are "normal" side effects ie: ears hurt, bit of a sore throat/esophagus, some nausea (Zofran and Phenergan have been working well), very tired, but the stomach ache is pretty much continuous. Just wondering if it gets better/worse? Is it normal? Thanks so much for any insight you can give me....

Hi Corinna11,
I didn't have severe stomach pains...but I did have all those other side effects and Zofran worked best for nausea with me. Everyone is different, but you should keep a watch on the stomach pains, and let your MD know if continuous, or becomes more severe...I think.
Best wishes, and T/C was hard, but do-able for me!
Thinking of you,
Sybil

Thanks Sybil! Did you also have the feeling of a lump in your throat, like a huge vitamin that didnt go all the way down your esophagus? And whats up with all the dang shooting pains everywhere? And my tight chest? And my beeping raw a%#?? If this is what the 1st infusion is like Im NOT looking to the next ones! I guess it only gets better from here on out?? :(

I have to admit, I had to smile a little at your response! Brought back memories...my chemo was in the Fall of 2009. The esophagus thing...I think it is because our digestive tract has rapidly multiplying cells (and t/c attack cancer cells which rapidly multiply, so our digestive tract has all types of problems)...your throat/etc may just be getting the effects of that. The shooting pains are called neuropathy. Our nervous systems also have rapidly multiplying cells which are effected by t/c. I had shooting twinges, and burning feelings in my feet until about a month after my last infusion. Tight chest wasn't one of mine...you might want to ask your onc about that one. Raw a....? Having diarrhea? My side effects didn't seem to get a lot worse...they just were always there until a month or so after the last infusion. Just remember, you can do this...Take care of yourself...Get as much rest as possible. Keep yourself hydrated. And ask your onc any thing you are not sure about!
Hang in there, pink sister. My heart goes out to you...
Sybil

Funny thing is the shooting pains are everywhere BUT my feet/hands. Neck, ribs, abdomen, chest, ears, etc. Pretty regular in the digestive dept, just for some reason it is painful in that area, as if I should have a problem but dont. I'm glad it didnt get much worse for you. I'm in a bad marriage with children and that gives me alot of stress. Prob more side effects from the marriage then anything...

It sounds as if your side effects are pretty much the same as what I had. It also sounds as if you have some GERD or heartburn. The sore throat could actually be heartburn. Ask your Dr. about taking prescription heartburn medication to help relieve your symptoms. I take 25mg Prilosec in the morning as well as famotidine 20mg at night. This really helped

I, too, was on a regiment of Taxofere/Cytoxan. After my 1st treatment I had the cramping, diarrhea but minimal nausea. After 2nd treatment I developed a "chemo burn", chemotherapy phlebitis and also Hand and Foot Syndrome. Three days after the 3rd treatment I awoke in the middle of the night with severe stomach cramping, mostly on my left side, which continued to get progressively worse. I ended up going to the ER and was diagnosed with Perforated Diverticulitis and was taken into surgery, resulting in removal of 12 inches of my intestine and a temporary colostomy. My advice, be sure to call your oncologist and let them know of your symptoms. PD is very serious and can be life-threatening. Good luck!

I, too, was on a regiment of Taxofere/Cytoxan. After my 1st treatment I had the cramping, diarrhea but minimal nausea. After 2nd treatment I developed a "chemo burn", chemotherapy phlebitis and also Hand and Foot Syndrome. Three days after the 3rd treatment I awoke in the middle of the night with severe stomach cramping, mostly on my left side, which continued to get progressively worse. I ended up going to the ER and was diagnosed with Perforated Diverticulitis and was taken into surgery, resulting in removal of 12 inches of my intestine and a temporary colostomy. My advice, be sure to call your oncologist and let them know of your symptoms. PD is very serious and can be life-threatening. Good luck!

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